DEL MAR  One of the owners of California Chrome on Thursday explained the reasoning behind their decision not to bring the Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes winner to Del Mar for Pacific Classic Day.

California Chrome wasn’t going to run in the TVG Pacific Classic, the Del Mar Thoroughbred Club’s signature race, because of a foot injury suffered during the Belmont Stakes last month. Track officials, however, had pitched trainer Art Sherman and co-owners Perry Martin and Steve Coburn on the idea of the popular colt appearing at the track on Aug. 24, the biggest day of Del Mar’s summer meeting.

But Joe Harper, president and CEO of the Del Mar Thoroughbred Club, confirmed Thursday that negotiations broke down between Del Mar and California Chrome’s owners. Harper said the issues included insurance and fees.

Martin said he told Del Mar that it would take $50,000 for the colt to appear at Del Mar.

“It costs money to ship him; it’s a day off from the horse’s training and other things that affect the horse,” Martin said. “We bought the horse to race him, not parade him. Yuba City (where Martin is from) wants to do the same thing, parade him up here. We don’t own the horse to parade him. He’s a racehorse.”

Harper said he understood.

“We’d love to have California Chrome here,” he said. “It would be great for the fans, but we certainly understand and we hope to see him race here next year.”

Perry said an appearance by California Chrome would translate into more fans at Del Mar for the Pacific Classic, and he wanted a fair deal in exchange.

“They say they want to share California Chrome with their fans, but they’re a business, and it’s a way to get their attendance to swell on Pacific Classic Day,” Martin said. “They’re a business, and we’re a business.”

Martin said Sherman likely will face similar pressure to race California Chrome at Los Alamitos Race Course in September during the track’s first fall meeting. But Martin said he’s not in favor of the race at Los Alamitos, which California Chrome helped put on the map when he trained there leading up to the Derby.

“I know the pressure will be on Art to race there and help Los Alamitos get big attendance for that day,” Martin said. “But a couple weeks later, there’s the Awesome Again Stakes for $250,000, a race where if you win it, the Breeders’ Cup pays your entry fees for the Breeders’ Cup. I can’t see passing up a race like that just to do a favor for Los Alamitos. If they want us to race at Los Alamitos, pay our fees to enter the Breeders’ Cup. If they do that, I’ll consider it.”

The Awesome Again Stakes on Sept. 27 at Santa Anita Park is a 1 1/8-mile race for horses ages 3 and up, and is the last race in the Breeders’ Cup Challenge Series. It’s part of the “Win & You’re In” program.

California Chrome is expected to return to his stable at Los Alamitos later this month after spending time at Harris Farms in Coalinga to recover from his foot injury and rest after his grueling spring campaign that included his unsuccessful bid for the Triple Crown.

The injury occurred when Matterhorn stepped on his right foot as the horses left the gate in the Belmont. California Chrome finished in a dead heat for fourth place, two lengths behind winner Tonalist.